The Politics of 007

One of the most prominent and well-known film franchises in Hollywood is the James Bond film series. Filled with action, intensity, and unpredictability, the James Bond series has held its audience members to the edge of their seats for decades. However, one may be too quick to overlook the unsubtle propaganda wallowing in British patriotism and imperialism the spy films hold. The twenty third Bond film in particular, Skyfall (2012), is a product of Cold War-era propaganda, directed by Sam Mendes and produced by Eon Productions, featuring Daniel Craig in his third performance of James Bond. The film first released in the United Kingdom in October, 2012 then released worldwide a month later. Most people probably go to see a film like Skyfall for the thrills and stunts, but frankly speaking, the main reason that Bond films remain interesting and relevant is the politics they reflect. The film is intending to target the younger generation and those who grew up with the original Band films in the 60s and 70s.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 forced Hollywood to reinvent James Bond in the post-Cold War period. The character of James Band himself is very much a product of Cold War-era propaganda. He is a British-naval intelligence officer who is hyper-masculine, anti-communist, and could be consider a super soldier. Bond holds unwavering loyalty to imperialist missions, whether they were crushing liberation movements, toppling popular governments, or carrying out assassinations on behalf of the British government. Since the reinvention, James Bond films have reflected modern world politics with Skyfall the world’s changing political climate in recent years, such as political tension with NATO, international terrorist groups and cyber-terrorism with a fair share of bashing the Chinese government.

In truth, the quintessential traits of a propaganda movie are present in Skyfall, if somewhat subtler than its Cold War predecessors. The initial premise centered on a leaked list of NATO spies embedded in terrorist cells certainly supports the idea that Western intelligence agencies are fighting terrorism. All coupled with the driving force of demonizing perceived enemies of the West to deliver entertainment easily relatable to its intended audience. Skyfall is part of a larger trend of countries creating entertainment to deliver a sense of nationalism from sounds and images. England has done so with James Bond for decades to show what it really means to be English. James Bond has indeed left a cultural impact on the British national identity. In addition, James Bond fits the larger trend to connecting a character to a larger national identity. James bond himself does just that, a British hero embodying British nationalism.